Your child deserves a healthy start to life, including optimal oral health. The experienced providers at Excellence Dental Services and their affiliated dental practices are skilled at managing your child’s dental needs to reduce their risk of developing lasting issues. Call the Fullerton, California, office of Excellence Dental Services to set up your child’s appointment at a convenient practice or use the online tool to schedule.
Pediatric dentistry focuses on children’s oral health from birth through adolescence. Your child should see a dentist by age 4, but it’s best if you make an appointment as soon as their first tooth erupts.
Early visits help your child establish good oral health habits early on. The practices make pediatric dentistry visits a positive experience so your child wants to visit the dentist and maintain excellent oral health.
Once your child has had their first visit, they benefit from twice-yearly check-ups – just like adults do. These visits include dental cleanings and exams to detect problems like cavities or gingivitis. Regular pediatric visits can also evaluate your child’s teeth development and detect any problems early when they’re easiest to treat.
You may assume baby teeth just fall out anyway, so they don’t need the same attention as permanent adult teeth. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Your child’s baby teeth, or primary teeth, help them develop proper eating, chewing, and speaking skills. When they learn to take care of their baby teeth, they learn habits that stay with them as their adult teeth come in, which can prevent future oral health concerns that can be costly and uncomfortable.
Strong primary teeth are important to the development of the jaw, including the bone and muscles, so that permanent teeth can grow correctly. If a primary tooth is lost too soon, the underlying permanent teeth may come in crooked. And, when decay strikes baby teeth, your child still experiences pain and infection.
Care for your baby’s teeth begins early, even before they erupt through the gum line. The American Dental Association recommends gently wiping the baby’s gums with a moist, clean washcloth or gauze pad. Once a child’s teeth emerge, they should be brushed twice per day with a very tiny amount of toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice) and a soft brush.
As they reach 3, they can use about a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and learn to brush their teeth on their own. As soon as they have teeth that touch, your child should begin flossing. Continue to monitor their brushing until you’re confident they can do so on their own and not swallow excess toothpaste.
To schedule your child’s pediatric dentistry visit, call Excellence Dental Services, or use the online booking tool.
